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Digital Version Global trade today depends not only on economic agreements and supply chain infrastructure but also on the leaders who understand how to connect institutions, markets, and people across borders. Among those leaders is Estela Cachoua, Executive Director of the United States–Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Inter-American Chapter. Through decades of experience in international banking and economic collaboration, she has developed a leadership approach rooted in trust, cultural understanding, and long term strategic thinking. Her career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening relationships between organizations, industries, and nations, particularly between the United States and Mexico. Her professional journey demonstrates how cross border experience can shape a broader vision for economic cooperation. Over the years, she has worked at the intersection of finance, trade, and international partnerships. These experiences have given her unique insight into the complexities of global markets and the importance of building strong professional networks that allow collaboration to thrive even in challenging environments. A Career Built on Global Financial Expertise Estela Cachoua began her professional career in Mexico within the banking sector. From the early stages of her career, she developed an interest in international finance and the relationships that drive economic activity between countries. Her work in banking allowed her to understand the operational and regulatory frameworks that shape financial institutions across different markets. A significant chapter of her career was her time at HSBC Bank, where she spent nearly two decades working with financial institutions across Latin America and the Caribbean. During these years she gained extensive exposure to the dynamics of global finance. The role required constant interaction with international partners, regulatory bodies, and financial leaders who were operating within different economic environments. Working with global institutions across multiple countries brought valuable lessons about how markets operate under varying regulatory frameworks and cultural expectations. Managing relationships with dozens of international financial institutions required careful communication, strategic thinking, and a strong understanding of economic trends that influence global markets. These experiences helped her recognize that international business is not only about financial transactions. It is equally about trust, credibility, and the ability to navigate cultural differences while maintaining professional alignment among diverse stakeholders. One of the defining aspects of her work during this period involved guiding institutional relationships during times of financial uncertainty. Global markets periodically experience volatility, and navigating those conditions requires both technical expertise and confidence in leadership. During moments of market instability, financial institutions depend on clear communication and disciplined decision making. These experiences strengthened her resilience and taught her the importance of maintaining transparency when organizations face uncertainty. The Transition from Banking to Economic Diplomacy After many years in international banking, Estela made a transition that expanded her professional perspective even further. She moved into a leadership role with the United States–Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Inter-American Chapter. The transition represented more than a change in industry. It also marked a shift from focusing primarily on financial institutions to working within an organization dedicated to economic diplomacy and cross border collaboration. The Chamber plays a vital role in bringing together business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts who share a common interest in strengthening economic ties between the United States and Mexico. In her role as Executive Director, she works to facilitate dialogue and cooperation among organizations that operate within complex global supply chains and international trade networks. The position allows her to draw upon her extensive background in finance while expanding her influence across multiple industries. Through conferences, trade forums, and collaborative events, she helps create opportunities for leaders to exchange ideas and develop partnerships that support economic growth. Her work reflects a broader vision of international cooperation. By connecting business leaders and institutions from both countries, she contributes to a network that encourages innovation, investment, and long term collaboration. The Power of Professional Networks Throughout her career, Estela has consistently emphasized the importance of building strong professional networks. In global business environments, success often depends on the ability to connect the right individuals and organizations at the right moment. Relationships form the foundation upon which partnerships and opportunities develop. She believes that networking goes far beyond exchanging business cards or attending events. True professional networks are built on trust, credibility, and mutual respect. Over time, these connections become valuable channels for collaboration and problem solving. A principle that she often shares with emerging professionals is that success in international business is influenced not only by who one knows but also by who recognizes and trusts one’s expertise. Reputation and reliability play essential roles in opening doors to new opportunities. Her own career reflects this philosophy. By maintaining strong relationships with financial institutions, corporate leaders, and policy experts across multiple countries, she has created a professional ecosystem that supports ongoing collaboration and economic dialogue. Leading Through Cultural Understanding Working between Mexico and the United States has provided Estela with a deep understanding of cultural dynamics in international business. Cross border collaboration requires more than technical expertise. It also requires sensitivity to how people communicate, negotiate, and build trust within different cultural environments. Business relationships often depend on interpersonal understanding as much as strategic planning. By recognizing cultural nuances and respecting diverse perspectives, leaders can create stronger partnerships that endure beyond individual projects or transactions. Her leadership approach begins with listening carefully to stakeholders and identifying their core objectives. Whether she is working with government representatives, corporate executives, or entrepreneurs, she focuses on understanding the priorities that drive their decisions. Once those priorities are clear, she works to develop strategies that align interests and encourage cooperation. This ability to bridge perspectives has helped her build long lasting relationships across industries and institutions. When individuals feel respected and understood, collaboration becomes more productive and sustainable. Leadership in a Complex Global Trade Environment Global supply chains and trade networks are evolving rapidly. Technological advancement, geopolitical developments, and economic shifts have created an environment where leaders must constantly adapt to new realities. In this context, Estela believes that modern leaders must cultivate several key capabilities. Strategic

Digital Version From San José, Costa Rica, to executive leadership within one of the world’s most respected technology organizations, Castro’s journey is not merely a story of professional advancement. It is a testament to adaptability, humility, and the courage to embrace unexpected opportunities. In an era defined by global interdependence, operational complexity, and constant transformation, few leaders embody resilience and cross cultural stewardship as profoundly as Ronald Castro, Vice President of Supply Chain at IBM. Recognized in The Most Influential Latino Business Leaders 2026, Castro represents more than executive excellence. He represents the power of conviction, cultural identity, and long term vision in shaping global enterprise. From Costa Rica to the World Stage Born and raised in San José, Costa Rica, Castro’s early ambitions were grounded and practical. With determination and clarity of purpose, he left his home country to pursue engineering at Purdue University. His objective was simple yet meaningful: complete his undergraduate and graduate studies, return home, and eventually lead a manufacturing plant. However, life often reshapes even the most carefully crafted plans. During his time at Purdue, an encounter with an IBM recruiter introduced him to a scale of opportunity he had never fully imagined. The possibility of working within a truly global organization expanded his perspective beyond national borders. Initially, he viewed the move as temporary. His intention was to gain multinational experience for a few years and then return to Costa Rica better prepared for leadership. Yet once immersed in IBM’s global ecosystem, Castro discovered something transformative. The complexity of the challenges, the depth of collaboration across continents, and the tangible global impact of the work altered his trajectory. What was meant to be a short professional chapter evolved into a lifelong commitment. “He recalls that when he initially joined the organization, he saw it as a brief professional experience rather than a place where he would build his entire career, expecting it to be a stepping stone rather than a permanent path. “However, the continuous opportunities to learn, strengthen my expertise, and contribute to work that makes a meaningful difference across global markets affirmed that this was where I was meant to build and advance my career.” Early Lessons in Global Leadership From the outset of his career, Castro found himself collaborating with teams that spanned multiple geographies. These early experiences were not simply operational exercises. They were leadership laboratories. Driving change across borders required far more than technical execution. It demanded alignment across cultures, clarity of communication, and the ability to build trust among diverse stakeholders. Castro quickly realized that leadership effectiveness could not be confined by geography. It had to transcend it. He intentionally sought roles that exposed him to different business functions and operating models. From line management to corporate strategy, from functional assignments to enterprise wide transformation initiatives, each step broadened his understanding of the end to end supply chain landscape. Over time, this intentional openness became a defining strength. Castro lived and worked across multiple regions of the United States, from the West Coast to the East Coast and the South. Internationally, his professional journey took him to France, Brazil, Australia, and China. Each location offered new lessons in adaptability and cultural awareness. “With every transition, my ability to lead with deeper understanding and cultural awareness continued to grow,” he shares. Experiencing diverse markets and leadership environments firsthand provides a level of understanding and perspective that cannot be fully gained through academic study or theoretical frameworks alone. The Evolution of a Leadership Philosophy Castro’s leadership style has evolved significantly over the course of his career. In his early years, he was intensely focused on technical mastery and operational excellence. He sought to understand every dimension of supply chain operations, building expertise across manufacturing, strategy, and transformation initiatives. This foundation proved invaluable. It strengthened his business acumen and deepened his understanding of organizational dynamics. However, as his responsibilities expanded, so did his perspective on what leadership truly required. Today, Castro describes his approach as purpose driven and collaborative. While operational rigor remains critical, his focus has shifted toward building strong organizational capabilities and cultivating culture. He believes that sustained success comes not only from delivering results but from empowering people. Over the years, he has realized that true leadership is not about personal achievement, but about creating the conditions where others can grow, perform at their best, and succeed collectively. “It is about developing resilient and high performing teams, aligning everyone around a common purpose, and achieving outcomes that generate sustainable value for the entire organization.” Mentorship and coaching have become central to his philosophy. Castro places significant emphasis on talent development, ensuring that individuals within his organization are equipped to grow, adapt, and thrive in evolving environments. Driving Modernization with Clarity of Purpose The modern supply chain environment is defined by volatility, interconnected ecosystems, and rising expectations from clients and partners. For Castro, transformation is not optional. It is imperative. Under his leadership, IBM’s supply chain organization has pursued modernization guided by a clear North Star: delivering operational excellence, supporting clients, strengthening partnerships, and empowering a highly engaged workforce. A platform based operating model has been adopted to enhance end to end connectivity. By integrating Artificial Intelligence and advanced tools into core processes, the organization has improved decision making, strengthened visibility across operations, and enhanced agility throughout the value chain. Yet Castro emphasizes that structural transformation alone is insufficient. Cultural evolution is equally essential. “He emphasizes that today’s supply chain environment demands strong collaboration across departments and an ongoing commitment to developing new skills to remain effective and competitive. Effective leadership requires the courage to adapt decisively and the clarity to guide others confidently through change. To that end, investment in talent development has been prioritized. Teams are encouraged to expand their capabilities, deepen their expertise, and cultivate a mindset that embraces innovation and accountability. Resilience is also central to strategy, with strengthened risk management capabilities enabling faster response to disruptions. Looking ahead, Castro envisions supply chains defined by predictive insight, transparency, and

Digital Version In an age defined by rapid technological change, constant digital disruption, and an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape, a new generation of women leaders is paving the way toward a more secure, innovative, and inclusive future. Among these remarkable trailblazers stands Ami Tank, Vice President of U.S. Marketing at Fortinet — a global leader in cybersecurity and one of the most influential companies shaping how organizations protect the world’s most critical assets. Ami’s journey to executive leadership is not a linear story planned from the start. Instead, it is a powerful testament to resilience, curiosity, personal reinvention, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. As a woman who transitioned from aspiring to enter the medical field to becoming a senior leader in one of the most demanding sectors in technology, her path illustrates what happens when talent, opportunity, and courage meet at the right moment. Across her career — including more than two decades at Cisco and now in her leadership role at Fortinet — Ami has built a reputation for elevating teams, strengthening cross-functional alignment, and championing meaningful customer engagement. Her approach to leadership blends authenticity, operational discipline, strategic insight, and deep empathy, creating an environment where people can thrive and organizations can achieve sustainable growth. In this exclusive feature, she reflects on her journey, her leadership philosophy, and the evolving future of cybersecurity and marketing — while offering guidance for the next generation of women determined to make their mark in business and technology. A Journey That Evolved Through Curiosity, Capability, and Purpose Ami did not envision a career in marketing when she began her professional journey. In fact, she initially imagined herself entering the medical field. She eventually realized she wasn’t using her top strengths in medicine, which led her to pivot and pursue an MBA at Loyola University Chicago. During the program, she discovered a passion for business strategy, organizational behavior, and understanding how companies operate, grow, and navigate change. Her early career began in business process management — a discipline that gave her visibility into how teams operate, how performance is shaped, and how cross-functional collaboration influences outcomes. This foundation made her uniquely equipped to identify gaps, streamline operations, and ultimately build teams capable of delivering scalable impact. When Ami joined Cisco, she stepped into a world that would define the next 22 years of her career. At Cisco, she held roles across strategy and planning, business development, enablement, and operations. Each role expanded her understanding of customers, ecosystems, and global markets. More importantly, it awakened her passion for empowering people and shaping organizational culture. What makes her journey compelling is that her transition into marketing was not simply a change of function — it was a recognition of her strengths. As she took on leadership roles across global teams, she discovered how her diverse experience positioned her to navigate complex challenges, simplify communication, and create structures that enable teams to move with clarity and confidence. Today, as Vice President of U.S. Marketing at Fortinet, Ami draws on that foundation every day. Her blend of business acumen, marketing expertise, and people-first leadership continues to shape the way Fortinet engages its customers in an increasingly competitive cybersecurity environment. Driving Impact Through Alignment, Customer Understanding, and Brand Stewardship For Ami, effective marketing begins long before a campaign launches. It starts with the people involved — the teams, the cross-functional partners, and the customers themselves. Her belief is clear: strategy cannot thrive in isolation. At Fortinet, she has focused heavily on creating alignment between marketing, sales, and product teams. This cross-functional collaboration ensures that customers experience a consistent message, no matter where or how they interact with the brand. Customer insights serve as the navigational anchor for her decisions. Ami and her team invest time in understanding how customers think, what they value, and how their needs evolve. By honoring these insights, they are able to refine messaging, test new channels, expand their reach, and elevate the overall experience. One standout example of strategic brand building under her leadership is Fortinet’s sponsorship of the LPGA Fortinet Founders Cup in 2026. This initiative is not just a marketing investment — it is an embodiment of Fortinet’s values. It deepens customer engagement while advancing women in both sports and technology, showing how marketing can amplify both brand and purpose. Through these efforts, Ami is helping shape a marketing function that is unified, data-informed, and driven by meaningful customer connections. The Unique Strengths Women Bring to Leadership in Technology This edition celebrates women who are redefining the future of business, and Ami believes strongly in the value women bring to leadership roles — particularly within industries like cybersecurity. Women leaders, she notes, often excel at building cohesive teams grounded in trust and collaboration. These environments lead to better cross-functional alignment and ultimately stronger business results. Emotional intelligence — the ability to mentor, resolve conflict, retain top talent, and uplift morale — is another strength women frequently bring to the table. These are not secondary skills; they are essential drivers of organizational performance. In cybersecurity and technology, where complexity is high and customer needs vary dramatically, Ami believes women also contribute a valuable user-centric mindset. This perspective helps create solutions and messaging that are intuitive, clear, and impactful. Ultimately, women’s leadership strengthens teams, enhances customer engagement, and adds depth to organizational culture. Ami is committed to fostering a workplace where that leadership can thrive. Turning Challenges into Catalysts for Growth Ami’s leadership philosophy is shaped not only by her professional experiences, but also by the personal challenges she has faced. Balancing a demanding career while raising two children as a single mother — and caring for a parent with dementia — required resilience, discipline, and unwavering focus. These experiences strengthened her strategic thinking, sharpened her prioritization skills, and deepened her empathy. They also reinforced her belief that challenges can serve as powerful catalysts for growth. Working in a male-dominated industry has also influenced her journey in meaningful ways. Instead of viewing this environment as